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(No Model.)

J; L. MODONALD.

BAG FASTENER- No. 343,918. Patented June 15, 1886.

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PATENT JAMES L. MCDONALD, or STEELTON,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E- HALF TO JAMES A. GALVIN, OF SAME PLACE.

BAG-FAST EN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,918, dated June 15, 1.886.

Application filed January 21, 1886. Serial No. 189,324. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JAMES L. IVIODONALD, of Steelton, in the county of Dauphin, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved bag-fastener, such as is used to keep the mouths of bags closed after they are filled; and to this end it consists in certain novel details of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the device thrown open,

ready for application to a bag. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device closed around a bag, the latter being shown in dotted lines. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively plan and edge views of the device when closed.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

A represents the main portion of the frame of the device; B, the locking-lever; O, the locking-link, and D the link connecting the end of the locking-lever with the portion Aof the frame.

On the free end of the part A is formed a hook, E, with which the free end of the locking-link is adapted to engage. The other end of this piece A is formed into two small loops or eyes, F, and through these eyes is passed the piece of wire which forms the link D, which is then bent into the shape shown in Fig. l. The locking-lever and this link D are connected by means of the small loops G, formed on their ends, and the lockinglink is connected to the locking-lever by having its ends inserted in eyes formed in said lever.

As before observed, the link D is bent into the shape shown clearly in Fig. 1. This may be done either before or after its application to the frame A, the object in so bending it being to form a lock or catch, H, for the end of the locking-lever.

In addition to the above-described catch, another means of holding the device securely in a closed position is provided by making the locking-link O. of spring or steel wire, and with that portion near its ends where the jointed ends of the locking-lever and link D would strike when the device is closed normally too narrow to admit the said ends, but capable of being sprung apart as the said ends of thelocking-lever and link D are forced through, and again resuming its normal position when they have passed; or, instead of making the locking-link of spring metal, it may be made rigid, and the arms of the locking-lever and link D made of spring metal, so as to spring together as they pass through the locking-link, and then again resume their normal position; or both of these constructions may be combined to produce alike result.

The general construction of my invention having now been described, its operation will be readily understood. The fastener, being distended or opened, as shown in Fig. 1, is passed around a bag or other article desired to be secured, and the locking-link 0 made to engage the hook E. The lockinglever B is then forced back and beneath the catch H, thus reducing the area within the fastener, and consequently tightening the device around the bag and holding it securely closed.

It will be observed that my fastener is very simple in its operation and manufacture, and being preferably formed entirely of wire is very cheap, strong, and durable.

I claim as my invention- 1. In the herein-described bagfastener, the combination of the main frame A, having the hook for the engagement of the locking-link, the locking-lever having the locking-link pivoted in eyes formed in it, and the link connecting the end of the locking-lever with the frame A, a portion of said link being formed into a catch for the locking-lever, substantially as described.

2. In the herein-described bag-fastener, the

combination of the main frame A, having the hook for the engagement of the lockinglink,

the locking-lever having the locking-link pivlocking-lever, substantially as described.

oted in eyes formed in it, and the link D,c0n- JAMES L. MCDONALD. 5 necting the end of the locking-lever with the Witnesses:

frame A,0ne end of said connecting-link for'm- FRED. M. OTI,

ing a catch for the free end of the l0cking-1e- M. W. JACOBS.

ver, and the other end engaging with the locking-link to form an additional catch for said 

